Property

Mayfair flat listed at £608,333 per month sparks disbelief and criticism

Sunday, 9 November 2025 5:05AM UTC

A Mayfair estate agent's outrageous listing of a four-bedroom flat at over £600,000 per month has ignited online controversy, highlighting the widening gap between luxury marketing and market realities in central London.

An estate agent's decision to place a four-bedroom flat in Mayfair on the rental market for an astonishing £608,333 per month has sparked widespread astonishment and criticism online. Located at 22 Hanover Square, the property boasts a prime central London location nestled between Soho and Kensington within the prestigious W1 postcode, mere steps from iconic spots such as Oxford Circus and Bond Street. Despite its luxurious features, the sky-high rental price has left many potential renters baffled and unable to justify the cost.

The penthouse flat offers an impressive array of amenities including four bathrooms, a fully furnished interior with luxury fittings, a cocktail bar, a balcony with panoramic views of the London skyline, and an open-plan kitchen with marble countertops and a breakfast bar. The estate agent Nest Seekers International describes the property as "a luxurious blend of British heritage and contemporary sophistication," highlighting bespoke interiors crafted by artisans, hand-painted wallpapers, gilded finishes, and a private terrace offering 180-degree city views. The listing paints the flat as an opulent urban retreat designed for both lavish entertaining and tranquil relaxation.

However, the asking rent vastly exceeds the market norms. The average rental price in London currently stands around £2,633 to £3,000 per month according to recent Rightmove data as of early 2024, reflecting a steady increase driven by strong demand and high living costs. Outer London boroughs have seen sharp rises of over 7% annually, while inner London boroughs have experienced more modest but still significant growth. Even within Mayfair and similar luxury London areas, rents typically do not approach the £600,000 monthly figure, making this listing an extreme outlier.

Social media and property forums have reacted with a mixture of disbelief and humour. Reddit users poked fun at the property’s astronomical rent, with some questioning the reality of the price and others jesting that one might need to take on lodgers or compare the rent to buying castles elsewhere in the UK. Comments suggested that the property’s price point was so unusual it defied conventional reasoning as to who would choose to rent at such a cost rather than purchasing a property outright.

Historically, central London has exhibited sharp rises in rental prices due to a combination of limited supply and high demand from domestic and international tenants. Data from late 2022 and early 2023 showed average asking rents climbing above £3,000 per month, signaling the premium on prime urban living. Yet, the Mayfair penthouse’s asking price is still several hundred thousand pounds above typical market offerings, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by prospective renters and industry observers alike.

Although the property has been on the market since May without securing a tenant, the estate agents continue to stand by their valuation, emphasising the bespoke craftsmanship and exceptional luxury fitting that purportedly justify the extraordinary price tag. The listing’s language underscores an appeal to the ultra-wealthy seeking not just accommodation but a unique, high-status urban living experience.

In summary, while central London’s rental market is experiencing historic highs and Mayfair remains one of the capital’s most exclusive and costly locations, the £608,333 monthly rental for this four-bedroom flat is an extreme and controversial outlier. It reflects both the extremes of luxury real estate marketing and the ever-widening gap between average rental costs and ultra-premium property listings. For the vast majority, such rents remain entirely out of reach, eliciting bemusement and debate on the limits of urban property valuation today.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] (Daily Mail) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11
^[2] (Evening Standard) - Paragraphs 3, 7
^[3] (Evening Standard) - Paragraphs 3, 7

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15261691/Luxury-real-estate-agent-blasted-listing-four-bedroom-flat-Mayfair-600k-MONTH.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/renting/london-rents-record-rightmove-b1154659.html - This article reports that average advertised rents in London have broken previous records, now standing at £2,633 per month as of April 2024. The data from Rightmove indicates a 5.3% annual increase, with outer London boroughs experiencing a 7.8% rise and inner London boroughs a 2.8% rise. The article highlights the ongoing demand and high cost of living in central areas, contributing to the escalating rental prices.
https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/renting/costs-renting-london-soars-rightmove-data-ps3-000-per-month-b1055846.html - This piece discusses the surge in rental prices in central London, with average asking rents exceeding £3,000 per month as of January 2023. Data from Rightmove reveals a 7.5% increase in listed rent costs in the final quarter of the previous year, marking a significant rise from the same period a year earlier. The article underscores the escalating demand and limited supply in the central London rental market.
https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/renting/london-rents-record-rightmove-b1154659.html - This article reports that average advertised rents in London have broken previous records, now standing at £2,633 per month as of April 2024. The data from Rightmove indicates a 5.3% annual increase, with outer London boroughs experiencing a 7.8% rise and inner London boroughs a 2.8% rise. The article highlights the ongoing demand and high cost of living in central areas, contributing to the escalating rental prices.
https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/renting/costs-renting-london-soars-rightmove-data-ps3-000-per-month-b1055846.html - This piece discusses the surge in rental prices in central London, with average asking rents exceeding £3,000 per month as of January 2023. Data from Rightmove reveals a 7.5% increase in listed rent costs in the final quarter of the previous year, marking a significant rise from the same period a year earlier. The article underscores the escalating demand and limited supply in the central London rental market.
https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/renting/london-rents-record-rightmove-b1154659.html - This article reports that average advertised rents in London have broken previous records, now standing at £2,633 per month as of April 2024. The data from Rightmove indicates a 5.3% annual increase, with outer London boroughs experiencing a 7.8% rise and inner London boroughs a 2.8% rise. The article highlights the ongoing demand and high cost of living in central areas, contributing to the escalating rental prices.
https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/renting/costs-renting-london-soars-rightmove-data-ps3-000-per-month-b1055846.html - This piece discusses the surge in rental prices in central London, with average asking rents exceeding £3,000 per month as of January 2023. Data from Rightmove reveals a 7.5% increase in listed rent costs in the final quarter of the previous year, marking a significant rise from the same period a year earlier. The article underscores the escalating demand and limited supply in the central London rental market.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 3

Notes: 🕰️ The narrative appears to be based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. However, the specific publication date of the press release is not provided, making it difficult to assess the freshness accurately. Additionally, the report mentions that the property has been on the market since May without securing a tenant, indicating that the information may be several months old. ⚠️

Quotes check

Score: 2

Notes: 🕰️ The report includes direct quotes from the estate agent Nest Seekers International, describing the property as "a luxurious blend of British heritage and contemporary sophistication." Without access to the original press release, it's challenging to determine if these quotes are original or recycled. ⚠️

Source reliability

Score: 4

Notes: ⚠️ The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a reputable organisation. However, the reliance on a press release without independent verification raises concerns about the reliability of the information presented. ⚠️

Plausability check

Score: 5

Notes: ⚠️ The claim of a four-bedroom flat in Mayfair listed at £600k per month is highly unusual and exceeds typical market rates. While the report provides some context about the property's features and location, the lack of independent verification and the reliance on a press release make it difficult to assess the plausibility fully. ⚠️

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: ⚠️ The narrative relies heavily on a press release from the estate agent, with limited independent verification. The reliance on a press release without independent verification raises concerns about the reliability of the information presented. Additionally, the claim of a four-bedroom flat in Mayfair listed at £600k per month is highly unusual and exceeds typical market rates, further questioning the plausibility of the report. ⚠️

Luxury real estate
London rental market
Mayfair property